Commissioners On Proper Path

POLITICAL TRADITION was broken and seniority was thrown out the window when Ken Adams, the only Republican on the Palm Beach County Commission, was elected commission chairman by a 3-2 vote.

Local Democratic Party officials railed against newly elected Commissioners Karen Marcus and Jerry Owens, calling their votes for Adams party treason and an unnecessary snub to veteran Commissioner Dorothy Wilken, a Democrat and heir apparent to the chairmanship.

It may all be true, but this partisan bickering should be considered as nothing more than the passing blast of hot air that it is.

What remains for the County Commission to tackle are problems of rapid growth, expansion of government services, proper zoning and land planning, coastal restoration and protection of environmentally sensitive land and water supplies.

It`s a heavy agenda that has been ignored too long. But all of the commissioners have publicly committed to solving the problems that revolve around the county`s explosive growth.

Adams set the tone shortly after he won the chairmanship -- a titular position but one that nonetheless has potential for leadership qualities -- by proposing that the commission investigate developer-paid impact fees to partially fund expansion of county fire-rescue services.

The proposal deserves exploration and has precedent in other counties. In Broward County, impact fees are levied for roads, schools and parks. In Palm Beach County, however, impact fees have been used only to finance road construction.

Adams` suggestion is a constructive start for the new commission and a good reminder that commissioners should drop their political baggage and get on with the job they were elected to do.